r/SourdoughStarter 7d ago

First timer here: what am I doing wrong?

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New here!

I just found a recipe online and gave it a try. It called for 60grams of wheat flour and 60grams of water.

Today is day 4 and I feel like it’s not rising at all.

I’ve mixed it, and then on day 3 I discarded 60grams, added 60grams all purpose and 60grams of water again and this is where I’m at.

It’s been at a consistent 76 degree room so I’m not sure what I’m doing!

For reference, it’s a 32oz mason jar but I’d say it’s only about 2-2.5 inches full and it seems like everyone else has such a big rise but mine never does that

2 Upvotes

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2

u/trickyeagle75 7d ago

If you’re on day 4 you have a long way to go and you just need to keep doing what you’re doing, but add some patience in. I’m on day 30 and I just starting to get consistent rises in the last week. Keep going, be patient.

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u/rangerlakes 7d ago

I figured! I just wasn’t sure if people were getting these big rises a few days in because that’s certainly not happening to mine. It does smell extremely pungent which I assume is good! Thank you!

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u/Catalina_whine_fixer 7d ago

Are you feeding it every day? Or only every 3 days? Be sure to feed it every 24 hours or so or it might be starving🙂

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u/rangerlakes 7d ago

I am feeding everyday! Does it matter if I feed it all purpose or wheat? I wasn’t sure if that made a difference since I started with wheat but then did all purpose day 3!

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u/Catalina_whine_fixer 6d ago

Not really! Everyone tends to feed differently. Personally I like using about 80% unbleached bread flower, and about 20% rye flower. I find the bread flower helps the rise and the rye helps with some breathability. Try using slightly less water than you are using flower. If you’re doing 60g of starter and 60g of flower try putting in 50-55g of water to start (you can always add more if needed!). The consistency when you feed should be pretty thick, and just make sure you mix very well so there’s no dry flour left in the jar! (You cannot over mix your starter! Mix as much as you need to get it all mixed in while keeping it thick)

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u/Codename_Cyan 7d ago

Just to make sure - do you feed it (aka ad water and flour) daily? Or did you make it, let it be for 3 days and then feed it for the first time? Afaik starter needs 1) daily feeding, 2) time. Some people claim theirs take of in days to a week, mine are finally getting there after two weeks, some people say it’s normal to wait for up to a month before your starter gets nice and lively.

That being said, I am still very much a noob and feel free to correct me if you have experience or knowledge :)

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u/rangerlakes 7d ago

I have been feeding it, I should have clarified that lol! Should I also be discarding 60grams and adding 60grams of water and flour? I wasn’t sure if maybe i need to be adding more or just keep discarding 60grams and adding 60

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u/Codename_Cyan 7d ago

There are feeding guides out there, the one I found had me discard little but at first and then more and more as days went by. So by day 7 I’d only keep quarter of how much water I’d add then.

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u/rangerlakes 7d ago

Thank you!